How many miles will motorcyclist Mike travel?

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#1 Post by **Kwackerz** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:01 pm

A challenging motorcycle trek will raise money for a charity that provides help and support for wounded service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Tree surgeon Mike Woolley, 50, will ride his Honda on an unsupported trail ride from Headley Court near Salisbury to his home in East Cornwall in  March, taking in as many legal green roads and tracks as possible. Mike will be carrying all his own fuel, water, food and shelter, and the idea is to guess how many kilometres he will cover before running out of fuel. As a clue, the bike is a 250cc Honda and has a desert tank fitted. Mike said: ‘I feel very strongly about the way the armed forces are treated — I grew up in a service family so it’s quite personal to me.’ The main project of the charity, Help for Heroes, is to raise £8-million to provide a proper full-sized swimming pool at Headley Court, the forces’ rehabilitation centre. ‘At the moment, service men and women are forced to use a public pool, which is far from ideal,’ said Mike. ‘I know we all get endlessly mugged for every worthy cause under the sun, but I really feel this is something that is worthwhile.’ Anyone who would like to help Mike should email MikeW90720@aol.com with their estimated distance to the nearest tenth of a kilometre and the amount they would like to give to Help for Heroes. Donations can can also be made directly on line, at www.helpforheroes.org.uk where there is a secure payment facility. Mike is also offering a prize to the winner — whoever gives the closest estimate can choose between a large quantity of home reared pork, a day’s trail riding, shooting or following Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt.

Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 24 January 08

Unashamed plug for a good cause

Gio · #2 Post by **Gio** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:35 pm

I'm guessing but isn't the "desert" tank about 2/3rds as big again.

At a guess I'd say he should be able to go the whole distance, thats presuming he keeps heading in a westerly direction and not back tracking.

I used to get almost 200 miles out of the BSA 250 between Ashford Kent and Durham. So I'd guess he might get as much as 650-700Km out of it as bikes are more efficient now.

I'd like to donate more but I already give what I can.

lazarus · #3 Post by **lazarus** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:49 pm

Nice idea but how in h*lls name can a swimming pool cost £8 million?

#4 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:08 pm

If you can do it cheaper, I know they'd appreciate the quote.

I do agree though, at first glance, it is a lot for a hole in the ground covered by a roof.

back_marker · #5 Post by **back_marker** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:13 pm

It's a bit more than just a pool. I was told last week that they are planning to replace one of the existing gyms, which at the moment is a temporary structure (read tent) which has been there for a few years, as well as another existing gym which is getting a bit long in the tooth to say th least; and the pool all in one complex.

I would just like to point out that I hope the author of that quote wasn't the bloke doing the ride because they have a bit of a problem with their Geography. I live between Salisbury and Headley Court and the mileage sponsored by Aprilia from my front door to Headley Court was almost exactly 75 miles (for anyone who's interested, it's actually just outside Leatherhead in Surrey).

Edited to add: An extremely good cause, please give generously. To take a trip round there is a truely eye-opening experience, and which a few not-in-my-back-yard-type people in the area could do with taking.

Gio · #6 Post by **Gio** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:33 pm

back_marker wrote:It's a bit more than just a pool. I was told last week that they are planning to replace one of the existing gyms, which at the moment is a temporary structure (read tent) which has been there for a few years, as well as another existing gym which is getting a bit long in the tooth to say th least; and the pool all in one complex.

I would just like to point out that I hope the author of that quote wasn't the bloke doing the ride because they have a bit of a problem with their Geography. I live between Salisbury and Headley Court and the mileage sponsored by Aprilia from my front door to Headley Court was almost exactly 75 miles (for anyone who's interested, it's actually just outside Leatherhead in Surrey).

Edited to add: An extremely good cause, please give generously. To take a trip round there is a truely eye-opening experience, and which a few not-in-my-back-yard-type people in the area could do with taking.

I know exactly where Headley Court is, on the back roads its about 16 miles, motorway 11 or 12.